CPAs & the virtual world of Second Lifeof Second Life

Vi t l W ld d CPE AVirtual Worlds and CPE - Are you Ready for the Future of Training?

Tom Hood, CPA.CITPMaryland Association of CPAsy

Key Questions to Think AboutKey Questions to Think About1) What if our we could connect to this new generation of

CPAs and young professionals early on in their careers?

2) Wh t if ld t h ld CPA h t thi2) What if we could teach our older CPAs how to use this technology to reach this new generation of CPAs and enable them to share and engage better?

3) What if we (State CPA Societies) could add these tools to l d th t l i tour arsenal and use these tools in new ways to engage our

members in new ways and help with collaboration, connection and community?y

As it relates to science and technology, the rate of change in the next decade is likely to be 4 to7change in the next decade, is likely to be 4 to7 times faster than in the last decade. If it is 4x faster it would be like planning for 2006 in 1890, if itfaster it would be like planning for 2006 in 1890, if it is 7x faster it would be like planning for 2006 in 1670.

- Expert on Education PanelThe Aspen Institute 2007

“If you think about the media environment an average American

teenager lives in, to walk into a classroom (or one of our Associations) that doesn’t

have any of that media must be like have any of that media must be like walking into a desert.”

– Steve Maher, High School teacher PBS Special “Growing Up On line”Special Growing Up On-line

Teens & Web 2 0Some 93% of teens use the internet, and more

Teens & Web 2.0

of them than ever are treating it as a venue for social interaction – a place where they can p y

share creations, tell stories, and interact with others.

64% of online teens have created content on the web photo sharing videos blogs webthe web – photo sharing, videos, blogs, web

pages, mash-ups, and remixes

Source: Pew Internet & American Life project report

Meet the Gaming Generation

1. competition with other kids (48%)other kids (48%)

2. finding ways to be successful at thesuccessful at the game for middle and high school studentshigh school students (46%)

3 the high level of3. the high level of interactivity (44%)

Source: Project Tomorrow – Speak Up 2007 report

Meet the Gaming GenerationG k it i t d t d diffi lt• Games make it easier to understand difficult

concepts – 51%• I would be more engaged in the subject – 50%ou d be o e e gaged e subjec 50%• I would learn more about the subject – 46% (56% of students in K-2 chose this as their #1 reason)

It would be more interesting to practice problems• It would be more interesting to practice problems –44%

Source: Project Tomorrow – Speak Up 2007 report

Meet our future members?“over 64% of students in grades K-12 play onlinegrades K-12 play online and/or electronics based games regularly”

“Downloading music is #1 activity by middle and high school students”

“40% of middle school students and 67% of high school students have a personal

school students

students have a personal website (Facebook, MySpace, Xanga)”

Source: Project Tomorrow – Speak Up 2007 report

WoW!WoW!15,000,000 users

One of the top MMORPGs

How has Continuing Professional Education changed?Education changed?

Five Learning Trends for 2009

1.Mobile Learning2.DIY - Do-it-Yourself

LearningLearning3.Flexible Learning

Environments4.Virtual Worlds4.Virtual Worlds5.Games & Simulation

Chief Learning Officer Magazine – January 2009

So what?

But wait there’s more…“When associations and other organizations try new meeting formats, it'snew meeting formats, it s not just for novelty-it's a step toward better content delivery What's more thedelivery. What's more, the association brave enough to try a new take on classic offerings gives its members more than information; it gives theminformation; it gives them an experience and exposure to a new way of doing things ”doing things.

-Jeff Waddle ASAE Meetings Remix – Time to Rethink the Usual Format – Association Now Magazine, Oct 2008

When should you start to pay attention?pay attention?

Moving beyond Second Life marketing, many companies are infiltrating virtual worlds for employee meetings mixers andmeetings, mixers, and recruiting – Business Week

Second Life producesSecond Life produces real training results –CLO magazine ASTD

Virtual Worlds make Harvard BusinessHarvard Business Review’s breakthrough ideas for 2008

When should you start to pay attention?pay attention?

This is not a game: Virtual Worlds coming to yourWorlds coming to your business Forrester predicts – CIO Magazine

Virtual worlds will be widely adopted venues for reaching p gcustomers and experimenting with new product ideas and business modelsmodels – Intuit’s Future of Small Business Report

Second Life / Virtual worlds

We were first CPA group to have a presence in Second Life

Adidas Dell

Who’s there? Dell Toyota Sun Microsystems American Apparel The city of St. Louis IBM IBM Starwood Reuters CNET Networks Yankee Stadium H d ( d 200 h h l ) Harvard (and 200+ other schools) H&R Block MACPA MACPA CPA Australia FASB

Accounting for Second LifeJournal of AccountancyJ 2008June, 2008

University of Florida Report - Winter 2008

The study found that 93% of college instructors using Second Life in classes were satisfied enough to do

y p

classes were satisfied enough to do it again and felt it enhanced the learning experience.

"Post-secondary school instructors who conduct classes fully in Second Life are significantly more satisfied than those who use Second Life as only a small supplement to a real-world classes.”

Professors Richard Johnson & Joyce Middleton of Frostburg University,

Maryland

Accounting Educators in Second LifeDr. Mike Kraten, CPASuffolk UniversityDr. Robert BloomfieldDr. Robert BloomfieldCornell UniversityDr. Steve HornikUniversity of Central FloridaUniversity of Central Florida

CPA Australia is there

FASB is there!

Even your members are there!

IBM Financial AnalystMember of NJSCPA

UCF Accounting Assistant

"I look at it as just another office, another extension of our firm. It’s another touch point where we can

potentially meet with clients and expand our geographic of where we can deliver services.”

- Byron Patrick CPA CITP KAWG&F First CPA Firm in Second LifeByron Patrick, CPA.CITP KAWG&F First CPA Firm in Second Life

CFO Rising in Second Life"Second Life is more compelling than a p gconference call, less intimidating than a video conference and video conference, and a hell of a lot better than business travel.“

-- John Zdanowski, CFO, Linden Lab,

Real Business in Second Life• Building communities• Building communities• Product development• Customer serviceCustomer service• Education & training• Employee on-boarding• Marketing & public relations• Selling goods & services (B2B B2C C2C)(B2B, B2C, C2C)

If there is real money here – shouldn’there shouldn t CPAs be here?

How we are using Second Life

• Accounting d tieducation

• New/Young P f i lProfessionals• Community

M ti• Meetings• CPE

E hibit• Exhibits

Accounting Education Pavilion

Our pavilion features a place for Colleges & Universities to showcase their accounting education and a place for accounting

educators to connect share and learn from each other It is also aeducators to connect, share, and learn from each other. It is also a place for prospective students to see the many options available

in an exciting career as a Certified Public Accountant.

New Young Professionals NetworkClub NYPN on CPA IslandClub NYPN on CPA Island

Life’s a beach at the Club NYPN on CPA island. ThisLife s a beach at the Club NYPN on CPA island. This special area devoted to New & Young Professionals

has all of the features for networking, casual meetups and fun Complete with a dance floor tikimeetups, and fun. Complete with a dance floor, tiki

bars, beach, and a real treehouse – it is the place for students and young professionals to chill.

BLI Conference Center

A center facilitating the development and sharing of competencies and strategic knowledge required for leadership in the rapidly changingstrategic knowledge required for leadership in the rapidly changing

business environment. BLI will deliver competency-based curriculum, courses, content, and community to enhance learning and grow intellectual capital for organizational and executive leadershipintellectual capital for organizational and executive leadership.

CFO of the Future CenterChief Financial Officers are one of the exciting career options many CPAs

choose. This building and exhibit is a place to network, collaborate, and co-create resources to help today’s CFO deal with the challenges of today’screate resources to help today s CFO deal with the challenges of today s

rapidly changing business landscape. Join the group SLACPA and look for upcoming events. Visit us at CPA Island

http://www cpaisland comhttp://www.cpaisland.com

CPA Firm of the Future Center

CPA Firms are dealing with increased business complexity, the proliferation of standards and responsibilities, globalization, and a

historic workforce shortage. This center is a place to collaborate and co-create the resources and best practices needed to prosper and thrive in today’s rapidly

changing b siness Come join the comm nitchanging business. Come join the community…

BLI Center for Strategic Planning

Strategy & leadership are the prerequisites for success in the Next Economy — The Network Economy, the Internet Economy, the Next

Economy; all are terms that speak to the new body of knowledge newEconomy; all are terms that speak to the new body of knowledge, new strategies, and fundamentally new dynamics which shape not only our economy but our society. This center is a place to share best practices

and form a community dedicated to strategic leadershipand form a community dedicated to strategic leadership.

MACPA HeadquartersOur office features a video room, our Board room, offices and additional meeting rooms.

http://www macpa orghttp://www.macpa.org

Upcoming EventsDigital Now Conference

Demonstrations to Association CommunityF id A il 25 2008Friday, April 25, 2008

9:50 a.m. – 10:10 a.m. EST6:50 a.m. –7:10 a.m. PST/SLT

&2:20 p.m. – 2:40 p.m. EST

11:20 a m –11:40 p m PST/SLT11:20 a.m. 11:40 p.m. PST/SLTTowson University

Creating REAL Business presences in Second LifeF id M 2 2008Friday, May 2, 2008

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. EST9:00 a.m. –10:00 a.m. PST/SLT

Upcoming EventsMDBIZEXPO

The first Business & Accounting EXPO in Second Life!June 17th & 18th, 2008

Baltimore Convention CenterBaltimore Convention Center

MDBIZEXPOThe Future of Small Business – Intuit Corporation &The Future of Small Business Intuit Corporation &

The Institute for the FutureWednesday, June 18, 20088 10 9 00 EST8:10 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. EST

5:10 a.m. –6:00 a.m. PST/SLT

CPA Island -Upcoming EventsAACSB – The Association to Advance Collegiate

Schools of BusinessUsing Virtual Reality Technologies to Explore Worlds

Beyond the Blackboard – Dr. Mike KratenMonday, June 30, 2008Monday, June 30, 2008

1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. EST10:30 a.m. –12:00 p.m. PST/SLT

Upcoming EventsMDBIZEXPO

The Future of Small Business – What CPAs Need to Know Intuit Corporation & The Institute for the FutureKnow – Intuit Corporation & The Institute for the Future

Wednesday, June 18, 20089:10 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. EST

6:10 a.m. –7:00 a.m. PST/SLT

MDBIZEXPOThe Real Business of Second Life John ZdanowskiThe Real Business of Second Life – John Zdanowski,

CFO Linden LabsWednesday, June 18, 20082:15 p.m. – 3:05 p.m. EST

11:15 a.m. –12:05 p.m. PST/SLT

Enhanced Business ReportingEnhanced Business Reporting

SEC XBRL MandateSEC XBRL Mandate

Fair Value (with FENG & FEI)

Benefits of Virtual Worlds for EducationEducation

The sense of selfThe death of distanceThe power of presence,

sense of space & capacity to co-create

Th i fThe pervasiveness of practice

Th i h t fThe enrichment of experience

VW Sensibilities - eLearn Magazine Another Life: Virtual Worlds as Tools for Learning, Jay Cross – eLearning Magazine

The experience of virtual worlds

“In the future, as the t h l ti ttechnology continues to improve, I expect to see virtual worlds become immersive experiences that are difficult to differentiate from thedifferentiate from the real world.”

J h Zd ki CFO-- John Zdanowski, CFO, Linden Lab

"Second Life is more compelling than a conference call, less ,intimidating than a video conference, and a hell of a lot ,better than business travel.“

-- John Zdanowski, CFO, Linden Lab

“It (SL) saves time & money”

“If the web is reshaping the ld k it d ill bworld as we know it, and will be

the water in which the new generation of digital natives willgeneration of digital natives will swim, then it behooves all of us

to understanding it’s gimplications.”

– David Sibbet – The Grove Consultants Int’l

Concentrate on the relationships, not the

Remember – It’s not about the technologyrelationships, not the

technologies

You can…Ignore itFight it orFight it or

Harness it’s power

Maryland Association of CPAs – founded 1901 to promote and protect CPAs and help them thrive in the rapidly changing environment 10 000the rapidly changing environment – 10,000 members

Business Learning Institute – founded in 2000 withBusiness Learning Institute founded in 2000 with a mission to help organizations deliver competency-based curriculum, courses, content and community toenhance learning and grow intellectual capital forenhance learning and grow intellectual capital for organizational and executive leadership

Second Life Association of CPAs founded inSecond Life Association of CPAs – founded in 2006 With 238 members and two islands (CPA Island & CPA Island 2) with a mission of building a community of people interested in exploring the possibilities of CPAs in Second Life

For more informationFor more information

www.cpaisland.comwww.slacpa.org